Carrier for pneumatic transit-tubes.



No. 657,079. Patented sept. 4, |900. B. c. BATCHELLER.

CARRIER FOB PEUMATIC TBANSI'T TUBES.

(Application led Nov. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Sept*l 4, |900.

B. C. BA'`.`.HELLEI'1` CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIG TRANSIT TUBES.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1898,)

4 Shaots-Shaet 3.

(No Model.)

. @NNI Patented Sept. 4, 1900.

B. C. BATCHELLER. CARRIER FR PNEUMATIC TRANSIT TUBES.

V (Application filed Nov. 8. 1898.) N o M o d e l 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Unirrnn Srnftnsv PATENT OFFICE.

.IRNEY C. BATCHELLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARRIER FOR PNEUMATIC TRANSIT-TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,079, datedSeptember 4, 1900.

Application filed November 8, 1898. Serial No. 695,832. (No model.)

3e it known that I, BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in theState of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Car` means for securinga cushion on the front end of thecarrier which will not involve the use of bolts or other detachablesecuring devices passing through the carrier and which pref` erably willpermit both the ready attachment and detachment of the cushion.

A further object is to provide for the convenient and secure attachmentand ready detachment of selectin g-disks'to the front of the cushion. I

A further object is to so hinge the lid to the carrier-cylinder as topermit of its seating itself on the end of the cylinder by asubstantially-straight inward movement, an object secured by connectingthe lid and cylinder by what maybe aptly termed a chain hinge, havingtwo or more links intervening between the connected parts and preferablyof such a character as will permit of the lid being moved freely awayfrom the open end of thecylinder when desired. In connection with thechain-hinge connection I prefer to employ a substantially-round gasketseated on a conical flange of the lid and acting when the lid is closedagainst a conical seat.

A further object is to provide means which will lock the bolts in theirinward or non-operative position at all times except when the lid isproperly seated on the carriercylinder.

A further object is to provide a bolt-actu ating device movable from anoperative to a non-operative position and in connectionV therewith alocking device which will prevent a movement of the bolts to unlock themexcept when the said actuating device is moved to operative position.

A further object is to construct the said lock-actuating device,preferably a lever, in such a Way that when in operative position itwill project beyond the sides of the cylinder to such an extent that itcannot be brought to operative position and at the same time insertedwith the carrier into the pneumatic tube.

A further object is to provide a locking device which will prevent themovement of the locleactuating device or lever from operative tonon-operative position at any other time or position than thatcorresponding to the locking position ofthe bolts.

The nature of my improvements will be best understood as described inconnection with the drawings, in which they are illustrated as embodiedin what I believe to be their best and most practicable forms and inwhich*- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of a carrier havingmy improved features of construction, Fig. 2 being a fragmentary view ofa portion of the lid and the lock-actuated lever, showing the said leverin operative position. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the outer face of thelid. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inner face of the lid, the view beingtaken on the section-line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a separate viewshowing a portion of the locking devices used in connection with thelock-actuating lever. Figs. 6 and 7 are plan views of the plates throughwhich the lockactuating lever is actuated, with the lock-actuatingmechanism on the inside of the lid. Fig. 8 is a cross-section throughthe lid and lid end of the carrier-cylinder, taken on the section-line 88 of Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4.Fig. 10 is a detached view of the conical lidseat, the section being thesame as that of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 in a plan View of a bolt-guiding plateused on the inside of the lid. Fig. 12 is a detached view of thegasket'used in connection with the lid and lid-seat, the gasket beingshown in section. Fig. 13 is a sectional'view of the head of the carrierand its attachments, taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 1 oron the section-line 13 13 of Fig. 1. Fig. 14 is a front vieW of the headof the carrier and the mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 15 is A afragmentary plan view of a locking-flange secured on the head of thecarrier, Fig. ll

being a similar edge view of the same device and Fig. 155 a viewillustrating a detail of its construction. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary planView of a correspondinglocking-flange secured on the cushion, Fig. 18being an edge view of the same device. Fig. 19 is a plan View of thespring-holding plate E5, used in connection with theselecting-plate-holding mechanism, Fig. 2O being a cross-section onsection-line 20 2O of Fig. 19 and Fig. 21 a cross-section on thesection-line 21 21 of Fig. 19. the selecting-plate-locking stud, andFig. 23 is a side view of a key adapted for operating the locking-stud.v A indicates the cylindrical body of the carrier, and A' its front endor head, this head.

and the body of the carrier being preferably made integral, as shown, asthe best way of providing against any leakage through they front end ofthe carrier.

A2 indicates the open or rear end of the and preferably, as shown,inwardly-extend-y ing flange D', which, like the flange C', is cut awayat one point, (indicated at D2.) The lring D is secured to the innerface of the cushion by means of rivets, as indicated at e, and bypressing one edge, as d2, of the flange D under the edge c2 of theflange C and then turning the cushion the entire flange D' can be turnedunder the flange C', and the cushion thus securely locked in place onthe head of the cylinder. To facilitate the interlocking of the twoflanges, it is convenient that the edge c2 be turned up slightly, asindicated in Fig. 155, or of course the corresponding edge d? of theother ring might be turned down to the same extent, and to facilitatethe disengagement of the two rings it is convenient that the edge of theflange C' opposite to the edge c2 should be turned down, as indicatedalso in Fig. 155. The cushion is formed by sewing two pieces of strongmaterial, preferably leather, together, the parts being indicated at Eand E' and the sewed peripheral edges at e'. The filling of the cushion(indicated at I) should be of hair or some other elastic andcompressible material, and it is desirable that the front of the cushionshould be for a certain extent, at least, flat. I reinforce the centralpart of the leather disk E' with a metal plate E5, secured to it byrivets e4. The center of the plate E3 is formed withja circularperforation, as indicated at e3, a similar perforation being formedthrough the Fig. 22 is a detached sectional view of leather -disk E',and to the center of the plate E3 is secured, as by means of rivets e5,a plate E5, having an outwardly-projecting boss E5, which extendsthrough the central perforation in the plate and leather disk. The bossE6 is internally threaded, as shown, and to the rear face of the plateE5 is secured a plate E7, having a transverse dish-shaped groove E8formed in it, as best shown in Figs. 19, 20, and 21. Lying in andsupported on the shallow outer face of this groove is a flat spring,indicated at F, (see Figs. 13 and 14,) the spring normally resting fiatagainst the inner face of the plate E5.

G is a threaded stud adapted to screw into the boss E6, the stud beingformed lwith an outwardly-extending ange G', an angular centralperforation G2, and a straight slot G3 of width sufiicient to givepassage to the spring F, formed across its inner end.

H is a selecting-plate of the kind used for making electrical contactswith selecting devices governing the receipt or transit of the carrier,the course of the carrier depending on the diameter of the particularselectingplate with which it isprovided. Such plates are preferablyformed, as shown, with their centers dished and perforated, as indicatedat H.

J, Fig. 23, isla key having an angular portion J', adapted to engagewith the angular perforation Gg of the stud and of a length exceedingsomewhat the length of the stud.

When it is desired to remove the selectingplate H, the angular portionJ' of the key J is inserted in the lperforation of the stud and pressedagainst the spring F until its center is pressed into the dished slot E8to a sufficient degree to clear the slot G3 in the stud. The key is thenrotated so as to unscrew the stud and permit the removal of theselectingplate. To secure a new selecting-plate in place, it is placedon the front of the cushion and the stud passed through its center andscrewed into the threaded boss E6, the key pressing the spring away andpermitting the flange G' of the stud to be firmly screwed down againstthe selecting-plate, the removal of the key permitting the spring F tomove up into the slot G3 of the stud and effectually lock it in place.

Referring next to the open end of the carrier, K is a conical lid-seatfirmly secured, as by rivets, to the inside of the open end of thecylinder.

K' K', &c., (see Figs. 8 and 10,) are boltholes formed on the inner edgeof the seat.

L isa hinge-block firmly secured to the inside of the casing, as shown,(see Fig. 8,)and to which is attached the link L' of a chain hinge L' L2L5'L4, the link or plate L4 being attached to the inside of the lid andthe links L2 and L'5 intervening between the lid and cylinder. Thedevice which I have called a chain hinge shares the peculiarities of achain in that it vconsists of a number of links free to turn on eachother in one direction ICO IIO

and also those of a hinge in that it permits angular movement of the lidonly in one direction. In the plane at right angles to the hinge-jointsthe lid is movable as freely as though secured by a rope; but it iswithout freedom to move in other directions and therefore alwaysoccupies the same position on the conical seat when closed.

M is the lid, which is formed with an outwardly-extending conical flangeM', preferably having a peripheral outwardly-extending ange M2, whichwhen the lid is seated rests against the end A2 of the cylinder. Thecenter of the lid M is, as shown, formed with a circular perforation,(indicated at m.)

M3 is an annular ring secured around the inner edge of the lid M,preferably having its outer end projecting somewhat beyond it, as shown,the ring being bent so as to form boltguiding recesses M4. (See Figs. land 4.)

M5 (see Figs. l, S, and 1l) is a plate having a central perforationcorresponding to the perforation m in the lid, which plate is secured tothe center of the lid and is formed with bolt-guide recesses M6,radially corresponding with the guides M4, formed in the ring M2.

N is a circular plate or disk fitting in the perforation m and extendingthrough the perforation in the plate M5. To the outer face of this diskis firmly secured, as by rivets, a plate N', (shown in detail in Fig.6,) one end of which, N2, is recessed, as indicated at N 4, flanges N3N2 on each side of the recess being thrust upward from the face of thelid, as indicated in Figs. l, 6, and S. To the end N2 of the plate N' isiirmly secured the hinge-eye plate N5. (Shown in detail in Fig. 7.)

N6 (see Figs. l, 2, 3, 5, and 8) is a segmetal plate rmly secured to thelid, as shown, and having a langeNexiending inwardly toward the centerof thelid and outwardly from the plane of the lid, said flange beingrecessed at N2, (see Fig. 5,) so that the end N8 of the flange N7 willlie to one side ofthe hinge-eye opening in the plate N5 when it isturned to the position shown in Fig. 3.

O is a pivot or hinge pin secured in the hingeeye of the plate N5 andwhich passes through the head O' of the lock-operating lever O2,

the parts being arranged so that in one posi-` tion the head O' of thelever lies in the recess 'N2 of the iiange NT and in close registry withthe end NS of this flange. The head O of the lever is formed with arecess o', which when the lever is turned to the position indicated inFig. 2 enables the head O' to clear the iiange N7, permitting the recessand the parts attached thereto to be turned toward the left, as shown inFig. 3, such movement of the lever, however, causing the recess o' to sointerlock with the flange N7 that the lever cannot be moved backwarduntil the parts are again turned to the position shown in Fig. 3. Itwill be seen that when the lever O2 is turned outward or into operativeposition its free end 02 projects to a considerable distance beyond theouter face of the cylinder, a construction which will etfectuallyprevent the insertion of the carrier into a transmissiontube while thelever is in its operative position and which will also prevent the leverfrom moving to an operative position while the carrier is within thetube. In its nonoperative position, that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thelever is folded down against the outside of the lid, and its free end 02is engaged by a catch O2, held in operative position by means of aspring O4, as shown in Figs. l and Secured to the inner face of the diskN is a plate P, which rotates with the disk N and by means of whichmotion is given to the locking-bolts. As shown and as most convenientlyconstructed, the plate P has formed in it cam-slots P', corresponding innumber to the bolts used in connection with the lid, and preferablyitisalso formed with notches (indicated at P2) in its periphery, thepurposeof which Will be hereinafter described.

Q Q, dac., are bolts the outer ends of which pass through the guidewaysM4, while their inner ends are preferably made forked, as indicated atQ', Fig. l, so as to pass on each side of the plate P, the inner forkextending into one of the guideways MG of the plate Q2 is a pin whichpasses through the forked ends Q' of each bolt and through one of thecam-grooves P' of the plate P. It will readily be seen howv in view ofthe construction above described the movements of the lever O2 controlthe movementof the bolts.

R R are bolts fulcrumed on pins M7 M7, se-

cured on the inner face of the lid and havingA rearwardly-extendinglever-arms R', which are pivotally connected withbars or rods R2, theouter ends of which extend through the guideways M4, formed in the ringM3.

R3 R3 indicate pins extending out from the bars R2, and R4 R4 aresprings which press against the pins R2, tending to throw the rods R2Outward and the bolts R inward. The length of the rods R2 is such thatthey nor'- mally project for some distance beyond the edge of the lid M,and when the pawls R are in registry with the notches P2 the openings R4cause such pawls to be forced into the notches. This registry of thepawls and notches, however, only occurs when the bolts are fullywithdrawn and the notched plate P is in its corresponding position ineach position of the bolts and plate, and when the lid is opened thepawls effectually lock the bolt-actuating plate P against a movement ina direction to force the bolts outward. As the lid is placed in positionto close the carrier-cylinder the outer projecting ends of the rod R2come in IOO IIO

contact with the conical seat K, which presses actu atin g-lever to movethe plate P and throw i the bolts outward into engaging osition.

D b C p cls While any convenient form of gasket can be used to make atight joint between the conical liange M of the lid and the conical seatK in the end of the carrier-cylinder, I prefer to use a gasket S, ofrubber or like material, having a substantially-circular section, asindicated in Fig. l2. Such gaskets have been long known for use inconnection with preserve-j ars and like receptacles, and I adapt mycarrier to their edective use by uniting the lid and cylinder by meansof what I have referred to as a chain hinge Which permits the lid to beinserted in or on the carrier by a substantially-straight inward push.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A carrier-cylinder having a tightly and permanently closed front endin combination with cushion-holding devices secured permanently to saidclosed end, a cushion and means for attaching the cushion secured toitand adapted to engage with the cushionholding devices on the carrier.I

2. A carrier-cylinder having a tightly and permanently closed front endformed integral with the walls of the carrier in combination withcushion-holding devices secured permanently to said closed end, acushion and means for attaching the cushion secured to it and adapted toengage with the cushionholding devices on the carrier.

y sections E and E of leather or similar material secured together attheiredges and packed with elastic compressible material in combinationwith a plate lil3 of metal or similar material secured on the inside ofthe outer leather section, and means for securing a selectingplate atthe center of the outer layer 'of the cushion.

5. In combination with a carrier-cylinder, means for securing aselecting-plate in position thereon consisting of a plate, as E5,secured on the front of the carrier and having athreaded perforation, aplate E7 having a groove E8 secured on the inside of plate E5, athreaded stud G adapted to screw into the threaded perforation in plateE5, said stud having an angular perforation G2, a fiange G and atransverse slot G3 across its inner end and a spring F lying in grooveE8 in position to enter and engage slot G3 when not depressed as by akey.

6. In combination with a carrier-cylinder having a closed and an openend, a lid for closing its open end, a chain hinge having two or morelinks interposed between the inside of the open end of the cylinder andthe inner face of the lid, and locking mechanism for fastening the lidon the open end of the cylinder.

7. In combination with a carrier-cylinder and a lid adapted to close thesame, a bolt or bolts secured on the lid and adapted to lock it in placeon the cylinder, a plate revolubly secured on the lid and arranged whenmoved to actuate said bolts, a locking pawl or pawls secured on the lidand arranged to engage and lock the revoluble plate in fixed 'positionwhen the bolts are withdrawn, a pawlactuating rod or rods having its ortheir ends projecting beyond the edge of the lid and a rod-actuatingincline secured on the end of the carrier-cylinder and arranged toactuate the rod or rods to release the pawl or pawls when the lid isproperly seated on the carrier.

8. In combination with a carrier-cylinder and a lid adapted to close thesame, a bolt or bolts secured on the lid and adapted to lock it inplaceon the cylinder, a cam-plate revolubly secured on the lid and arrangedwhen moved to actuate bolts, a locking pawl or pawls secured on the lidand arranged to engage and lock the cam-plate in Xed position when thebolts are withdrawn, a pawlactuating rod or rods having its or theirends projecting .beyond the end of the lid and a rod-actuating inclinesecured on the end of the carrier-cylinder and arranged to actuate therod or rods to release the pawl or pawls when the lid is properly seatedon the carrier.

9. In combination with a carrier-cylinder and a lid adapted to close thesame, a bolt or bolts secured on the lid and adapted to lock it in placeon the cylinder, a plate revolubly secured on the lid and arranged whenmoved to actuate the bolts, a bolt-actuating lever pivotally secured tothe plate on the outside of the lid and so as to turn on its pivot fromoperative to non-operative position, and a lock-` ing device arranged toprevent rotative movement of the plate and lever when the bolts aremoved to locking position and the-lever to non-operative position and toprevent the movement of the lever to its non-operative position in anyother position of the rotatable plate than that corresponding to thelocking position of the bolts.

10. In combination with a carrier-cylinder and a lid adapted to closethe same, a bolt or bolts 'secured on the lid and adapted to lock it inplace on the cylinder, a plate revolubly secured on the lid and arrangedwhen moved to actuate said bolts, a bolt-actuating lever pivotallysecured to the plate on the outside of the lid and so as to turn on itspivot from operative to non-operative position, said lever` beingarranged to project beyond the edge of the carrier-cylinder when inoperative position and to fold down over the lid in non-operativeposition, and a locking device arranged to prevent rotative movement ofthe plate and lever when the bolts are moved to locking position and thelever to non-oper- IOC) IIO

ative position and to prevent the movement of the lever to itsnon-operative position in any other position of the rotatable plate thanthat corresponding to the looking position of the bolts.

ll. ln combination with a carrier-cylinder and a lid adapted to closethe same, a bolt or bolts secured on the lid and adapted to lock it inplace on the cylinder, a plate revolubly secured on the lid and arrangedWhen moved to. actuate the bolts, a bolt-actuating lever pivotallysecured to the plate on the outside of the lid and so as to turn on itspivot from operative to non-operative position, said lever having' ahead, as O, with a notch o', a ledge as N7 secured on the lid andextending from a point, as NS, lying clear of the head O When in lockingposition in the direction of movement of said head when moving toWithdraw the bolts, said ledge being arranged to, as described, preventthe rotative movement of the lever and plate to which it is attached inall positions of the lever except Whenturned on its pivot to operativeposition and to prevent the turning of the lever to non-operativeposition in all positions except that corresponding to the lockedposition of the bolts.

l2. In combination With a carrier-cylinder and a lid adapted to closethe same, a bolt or bolts secured on the lid and adapted to lock it inplace on the cylinder, a plate revolubly secured on the lid and arrangedwhen moved to actuate the bolts, a locking pawl or pawls secured on thelid and arranged to engage and lock the revoluble plate in fixedposit-ion when the bolts are withdrawn, a paWl-actuating rod or rodshaving its or their ends projecting beyond the edge of the lid, arod-actuating incline secured on the end of the carrier-cylinder andarranged to actuate the rod or rods to release the paWl or pawls whenthe lid is properly seated on the carrier, a bolt- CII actuating leverpivotally secured to the rotatable plate on the outside of the lid andso as to turn on its pivot from operative to nonoperative position and alocking device arranged as specified to prevent rotative movement of theplate and lever When the bolts are moved to locking position and thelever to non-operative position and to prevent the movement of the leverto non-operative position in any other position of the rotatable platethan that corresponding to the locking position ot' the bolts.

13. In combination With a carrier-cylinder, a conical lid-seat, as K, alid having a conical peripheral ange, as M', a chain hinge having two-ormore links intervening between the lid and carrier-cylinder and agasket, as S, having a substantially-round section of less diameter thanthe conical faces K and M situated on the flange lt' and adapted tointervene between it and seat K when the lid is closed.

14. In combination with a carrier-cylinder a lid M having a centralcircular opening m in combination with a plate M5 having a centralopening and guide-slots MG formed in its outer edge said plate beingsecured to the inside of the center of lid M, a disk-shaped plate Nsituated in the circular central openings of lid M and plate M5, acam-plate P secu-red to inside of plate N, a ring Ms having guideways M4secured to the outer edge of the lid, bolts Q operatively connected tothe cam-plate and having their outer ends guided in Ways Ml and theirinner ends guided in slots M(i and a plate, as N', secured on theoutside of the lid to plate N and by means of which said plate and thecam-plate are rotated.

BIRNEY C. BATOHELLER. Witnesses:

CHAs. F. MYERS, v D. STEWART.

